DENTAL IMPACTION
What are impacted teeth?
An impacted tooth is a tooth that, for some reason, has been blocked from breaking through the gum. Sometimes a tooth may be only partially impacted, meaning it has started to break through.
Oftentimes, impacted teeth cause no obvious symptoms and are only discovered during a routine X-ray at the dentist’s office.
Read on to learn more about impacted teeth and when you need to do something about them.
Symptoms of impacted teeth
You may not experience any symptoms in some cases. In other cases, an impacted tooth may cause:
- red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- bad breath
- a bad taste in your mouth
- difficulty opening your mouth
- pain when opening your mouth, or when chewing and biting
Symptoms may come and go over weeks or months.
What causes an impacted tooth?
In general, a tooth becomes impacted when your mouth doesn’t have enough space for it. This can be the result of genetics or orthodontic treatment.
Which teeth are most often impacted?
Wisdom teeth, which are usually the last teeth to grow in — typically between the ages of 17 to 21 — are most typically impacted.
By the time that wisdom teeth — also known as “third molars” — come in, the jaw has often stopped growing. The mouth and jaw may thus be too small to accommodate them. Because there’s no real need for wisdom teeth anymore, they’re typically removed if they’re a problem. If you have a small jaw, you’re more likely to have impacted wisdom teeth.
The second most common teeth to be impacted are the maxillary canines, also referred to as the cuspid or upper eyeteeth. Because these teeth play a more important role in your mouth, your doctor is more likely to recommend treatments that encourage these teeth to erupt instead of removing them.
How are impacted teeth treated?
If you suspect you have an impacted tooth, see your dentist as soon as possible. They can examine your teeth and take an X-ray of your mouth to determine if an impacted tooth is causing your symptoms. If it is, they can discuss the benefits and risks of treatment.
Treatment options may include:
Pain management for impacted teeth
If you have pain from an impacted tooth, you may be able to use over-the-counter medication to provide temporary relief. Aspirin has been foundTrusted Source to be an effective treatment for mild to moderate tooth pain. However, aspirin should not be given to children under the age of 18, because it can increase their risk for Reye’s syndrome, a serious condition.
Ice may also help by reducing inflammation, or you can try swishing warm salt waterTrusted Source around your mouth, which can relieve pain. Or try one of these 15 home remedies.
If your pain is severe and you can’t find relief from home remedies, your doctor may prescribe a pain reliever. Even if home remedies help with your pain, you should still talk to your dentist. Pain relief treatments should only be used in the short term. If an impacted tooth is causing pain, it will likely need to be surgically removed or treated using other medical interventions.
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Dr. Sandhya Panwar Gupta
BDS, Certified Implantologist and CosmetologistDental Surgeon & Cosmetologist
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